IMMIGRATION
Centro Legal Operates Multiple Immigration Clinics
No appointment necessary. For information, call 510-437-1554, or email info@shadleysoapstone.com. Due to COVID-19, our drop-in clinics are remote.
(Temporarily on hold due to COVID) Call 510-437-1554 to schedule a remote consultation. Please leave a voice message.
General Immigration Drop-In Clinic
Third Thursdays of every month
9:00am – 11:00am
3400 E 12th St, Oakland, CA 94601
Legal Services
Centro Legal’s immigration practice is focused on serving the needs of our most vulnerable community members, including families living in poverty, long residing undocumented immigrants and families, youth, victims of violent crimes, asylum seekers, and detained individuals in removal proceedings.
Our removal defense practice specializes in cases that are urgent and often involve novel legal issues. Centro Legal’s immigration team has expertise in complex detained cases, including individuals deemed mentally incompetent by the court and appointed counsel.
Centro Legal also runs a robust pro bono immigration program. We train and provide technical and substantive assistance for pro bono attorneys representing clients seeking U visa relief, asylum before the immigration courts and asylum office, and bond for release from immigration detention. Pro bono attorneys also participate in our clinics and workshops under Centro Legal’s supervision and mentorship.
WE REPRESENT
Clients in detained and non-detained removal defense
Asylum applications
Family-based visa petitions
U visas for victims of violent crimes
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
Adjustment of status
Naturalization
Policy Advocacy
Centro Legal’s strong legal rights and direct representation immigration program places us in a unique position to advocate for systemic change to the broken immigration system and to promote the rights of individuals on a local, regional, and national scale. In addition to providing legal assistance to low-income immigrants, Centro Legal’s immigration team works with local and national partner groups to advocate and litigate for reform for individuals in immigration detention.
To promote systemic change on a broader scale, Centro Legal engages in and supports a wide array of immigrants’ rights advocacy efforts. We have participated in litigation on immigration detention conditions, provided data and legal support for a City of Oakland lawsuit against a “notario” business that defrauded immigrants, and are currently engaged in advocacy to increase access to counsel for immigrant detainees. Centro Legal attorneys also participate in quarterly meetings to improve conditions at the various immigration detention centers throughout California.
In recent years, Centro Legal has been at the forefront of efforts to curtail unlawful collaboration between local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities in order to prevent unjust deportations and keep immigrant families together.